Top Chinese celebrity: Debuted from Running Man

Chapter 397 The Young Lady Seeking Refuge (6.5k)
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Seeing their painstakingly crafted work dragged into such a terrible media storm before even starting filming,

It could even jeopardize the survival of the production team and the final presentation. Gu Man, the original author of "Love O2O", finally couldn't sit still any longer.

Anger simmered and churned within her, eventually breaking through the reserved nature she was accustomed to as a creator, and she chose to personally confront this undeserved disaster head-on.

How could she not be angry?

How can you not be angry?
In order to perfectly adapt "Love O2O," her most cherished work, into a film and television series, she almost risked all her credibility and influence as the original author.

It was she who, through tireless negotiation with various parties and even nearly clashed with investors at some points, painstakingly and at the cost of countless favors,

That's why they managed to invite Gu Qing, who is currently at the peak of his career and has a limited availability, to play the male lead "Xiao Nai".

All of this is for one purpose only: to find the actors who best embody the spirit of the book and bring the fictional characters to life on screen.

She also put a lot of effort into selecting the female lead, "Bei Weiwei".

Although Miss Jing Tian joined the production with her own investment, she personally reviewed the materials and footage.
Whether it's her figure, her face, or her unique blend of beauty and innocence,
In terms of how well she matches the image of the beautiful and radiant "Bei Weiwei" in the book, she is in no way inferior to Yang Mi, whom she initially admired.

The fact that the male and female leads had been cast brought her immense joy, as if she had seen her carefully nurtured child finally find its best home. The production team was also gradually getting back on track, with a bright future ahead.

But why!
At this critical juncture,

Shuangzi and her crazy fans rushed out like an out-of-control carriage, stirring up trouble without regard for anything else, throwing buckets of dirty water at the crew, trying to drag everyone's efforts into the quagmire!

Gu Man was especially anxious when she saw those fans indiscriminately attacking and stigmatizing the entire project, making such a big fuss.

She was afraid that the show would be ruined in terms of reputation before filming even started;
She was even more afraid that the chaotic scene would scare away Gu Qing, whom she had gone to great lengths to invite!
If Gu Qing's team decides to withdraw because they feel the risk is too high, then everything will be over!
Thinking of this,

Gu Man felt like killing someone.

then,

She broke her silence and, as the original author, released a sharply worded and clearly stated statement:

[Gu Man's blog post]

"Some things I need to say about the casting of 'Love O2O':"
1. Regarding the 'preliminary selection': Ms. Chu Yuxin was indeed one of the female lead candidates we considered (please pay special attention to the word 'one of').

The production company may have considered cost-effectiveness when considering a project, but for me, the core factor is always the suitability for the role!

2. About 'Bei Weiwei': My Bei Weiwei is a radiant, slender, confident, and generous beauty in the Computer Science Department!
Her beauty was aggressive; it was the kind that could instantly stun anyone. Forgive my bluntness,

Ms. Chu Yuxun's appearance and temperament are quite different from Bei Weiwei, whom I created! If you disagree, please go and read the character description in the first chapter of the original work!

3. Finally, and most importantly: I, Gu Man, on behalf of the original author of "Love O2O," assure all book fans and viewers that the actors we found for 'Xiao Nai' (Gu Qing) and 'Bei Weiwei' are the actors who best fit the soul of the book that we could find so far!
I believe in their performance, and I ask that you trust my judgment and my responsible attitude towards the work.

This drama will definitely be good!!

It must not be destroyed by baseless accusations!

When Gu Man posted this tweet, which was like a "declaration," it instantly stirred up an even more intense wave of public opinion than when Shuangzi posted her article!

Her words were like a precise scalpel, directly dissecting the carefully crafted facade of "victimized innocent beauty" created by Shuangzi and her fans.

"One of the best," "cheap," "doesn't match the description"... every word is like a resounding slap in the face to those who clamor for "the chosen one, Beiweiwei."

Fans of various female celebrities, already seething with anger from the onslaught of "little originals," and bystanders who could no longer stand it,
Now that they had finally found the most powerful weapon to retaliate, they poured into the battlefield:

"Hahaha—case solved! So the biggest reason for being selected was 'cheap'?! Teacher Gu, you've really hit the nail on the head!"

"That's hilarious! All I can say is that Gu Man did a great job! Never mess with a cultured person, especially a writer who's obsessed with their own work!"

"No wonder she's been relying on paid Q&A sessions to bleed fans dry. Turns out she's a 'cheap celebrity' recognized by the industry. Which real A-list actress would do something like this?"

"What top-tier flowers? That's hilarious, they're actually 'cost-effective' flowers!"

"666 yuan for a top-tier product? That's quite a 'good deal' indeed."

"@Chu Yuxun fans, where are your 'little original' fans? Keep bragging! Why don't you keep saying your character is 'the chosen one, Bei Weiwei'? Doesn't it hurt when the original author slaps you in the face?"

In an instant, a barrage of sarcastic yet insightful comments flooded into Shuangzi's blog comment section like a tsunami.

The original author's personal intervention to set the tone is far more damaging than the production team's weak statement or any fans' defense.

This completely turned the situation around.

This dramatic casting controversy,

The event temporarily ended with Shuangzi's side suffering a dismal defeat, losing "eight hundred enemies but a thousand of their own."

Not only did Shuangzi fail to salvage the role, but she also branded herself with negative labels such as "cheap" and "not matching the original character," severely damaging her reputation in the industry.

Gu Man's final guarantee was like a pledge to the "Love O2O" production team, completely binding the success or failure of the drama to the reputation of the original work.

Ironically,

Thanks to Zheng Shuang's "crazy" actions, the attention surrounding "Love O2O" was artificially boosted, reaching its peak of popularity even before its release.
But this also brings with it an inflated level of expectation.

Everyone stared wide-eyed:

What kind of sparks will fly when Gu Man chooses the "most suitable" actors?
Does the quality of this drama match its spectacular start?

If the final broadcast results are unsatisfactory, then the "little official fans" who have been temporarily repelled will inevitably make a comeback.

Shuangzi may also take this opportunity to "make a full recovery" and stage a "triumphant return".

At this moment, the entire crew of "Love O2O" felt as if a Damocles' sword was hanging over their heads, and they were all on high alert, not daring to relax even for a moment.

Although the storm has temporarily subsided, the curiosity of many onlookers in the Chinese entertainment industry has reached its peak regarding the mysterious female protagonist who was so strongly protected by Gu Man and successfully "squeezed out" Zheng Shuang.

"So, who exactly is this 'Bei Weiwei'?"

……

—Inside a secluded luxury mansion in Shanghai.

Miss Jing Tian was lying listlessly on the expensive Italian custom sofa in the living room.

Her once beautiful and radiant face was now dull and lifeless, bearing no resemblance to the spirited and radiant appearance she had before the release of "The Great Wall".

Those phoenix eyes, which should have been slightly upturned and charming, full of emotion, were swollen like those of a sad frog due to days of depression and crying, revealing a deep sense of grievance and confusion.

It's so uncomfortable...

My heart feels heavy, and I feel indescribably uncomfortable.

As the old saying goes: There is no greater sorrow than a broken heart.

The film "The Great Wall" embodies almost all of Jing Tian's ambitions and hopes in her acting career.

This young lady spared no expense for it, pouring in unprecedented effort and resources.

With a renowned director, star-studded cast, and a top-tier Hollywood special effects team…

On paper, the entire project is almost perfect, with no shortcomings to be found.

Oh, if I had to point out a flaw, it would probably be Jing Tian herself.

But wasn't the reason she invested so much resources against all odds precisely to use these industry masters to help her, her "only weakness," soar?

But what was the result?
The Galactic Battleship was a complete crash, smashed to pieces, utterly devastating.

Despite having the largest investment and the highest screening rate, the film failed to break the 1 billion yuan mark in total box office revenue during the fiercely competitive Spring Festival season, ranking only third among all films.

For such a massive production, this result is an absolute disaster, a complete loss, and arguably one of the biggest tragedies of the year.

Although Jing Tian comes from a wealthy family and is never short of money, it still hurts her conscience to throw away tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of yuan like throwing money down the drain without making a decent fuss!

What hurts even more is the indescribable sense of defeat and self-doubt.

She was admitting defeat... This time, she was truly admitting defeat.

"The Great Wall" was like a heavy hammer blow, completely shattering her last shred of wishful thinking that "I can become famous by relying on resources."

She almost believed that she was the legendary "box office poison," the unluckiest and most unpromising "unlucky guy" in the entertainment industry!
She even considered retiring from the entertainment industry and going home to live a comfortable, leisurely life.

But just as she lifted her leg to retreat, a deep-seated, unwilling obsession held her back.

For someone like her who lacks nothing, perhaps the most important thing in life can be summed up in four words: "A clear mind!"

It's red!

Without truly becoming famous through talent and work,
Jing Tian felt that even when she died, even if she developed dementia and lay in her hospital bed, she would use her last bit of strength to murmur, "Jing Tian... wants to be famous..."

But she was truly lost, not knowing which way to go.

She has worked with almost every actor, big name, and superstar in the Chinese film industry that you can think of. She even went so far as to use Hollywood connections to land a leading role in a blockbuster film.

The result was still no improvement; instead, it attracted more ridicule as a "resource-backed celebrity" and a "shameful example of forced promotion."

Has she really driven herself to the brink of ruin in the film industry?

In this moment of utter despair and self-doubt, a message suddenly appeared on the trending topics list, like a ray of light shining into the darkness, catching her attention—

"Gu Qing is suspected of playing the male lead 'Xiao Nai' in 'Love O2O'!"
This message instantly sparked a huge discussion:
"Gu Qing's younger brother is going to film a campus drama?!"

"Oh my god! It's like being transported back to Xu Yi from 'Left Ear'! But this time it's the perfect male god Xiao Nai!"

"Original novel fans are ecstatic! Xiao Nai's character design is so much better than Xu Yi's, and it's a sweet story with no angst at all!"

"That's great! My brother finally got a non-angsty novel. He must have heard what the fans wanted. He's so good to his fans!"

Whether it's Gu Qing's own fans, the "Gu Family," or casual viewers who have a great liking for him, everyone has high expectations and enthusiasm for this news.

Jing Tian, ​​who was almost completely isolated at home, naturally came across this news.

In those phoenix eyes, which had been weeping like sad frogs and were now lifeless and dim, a faint glimmer of light suddenly struggled to rise from the ruins.

"Gu Qing?"

She muttered to herself, then, as if grasping at a last straw, she abruptly sat up from the sofa. "Yes! I'm not done yet! Gu Qing... Gu Qing might be able to save me!!"

"Gu Qing can save me!!"

"I'm a proven box office poison, but he's a proven box office panacea!!" Filming "The Great Wall," a movie that broke her heart, brought her only solace in the fact that she defied public opinion and spent a lot of money to get a theme song from Gu Qing.

That song saved the movie from at least half of its box office revenue and almost all of its critical acclaim!

Amidst countless negative reviews of "The Great Wall," Gu Qing's song stands out as one of the very few, receiving almost zero negative feedback.

"If... if Gu Qing had played the male lead in 'The Great Wall' back then, would the situation have been completely different?"
Will I become famous then?

Once this idea took hold, it grew wildly.

"He's a true box office draw. He only contributed one song and it had this effect. If he were to star in it... the movie would definitely be a hit!"

"Yes, yes, it's not entirely my fault. It's all the production team's fault for not meeting my highest standards and getting Gu Qing to play an important cameo role! It's all their fault!!"

Da Tian Tian is like a drowning person grabbing onto the last piece of driftwood, forcibly hypnotizing herself, using this idea to comfort her already broken little heart.

"I think I've really hit the road in film... So, how about I switch tracks and try my luck in television dramas?!"

Jing Tian stared intently at the trending news about Gu Qing's new drama on her phone screen, a hesitant look on her pretty but pale face.

Acting in TV dramas...wouldn't that lower my status?

Does she live up to her status as an "international star"?
She once declared, "I'm going to Hollywood to act; I'll never be a supporting actress!"

Miss Jing, what a bold statement you make!

Arrogance is almost ingrained in their bones.

In her preconceived notion, acting in a TV series was somewhat of a "lowering of one's status" and a source of shame.

Fortunately,
Having experienced the disastrous failure of "The Great Wall" and then witnessing firsthand the phenomenal success of "Detective Chinatown,"

Gu Qing, currently the most popular male idol in the entertainment industry, has accepted TV drama scripts without any inhibitions...

Jing Tian's pitiful obsession with "status" suddenly seemed less important.

"Acting alongside Gu Qing... shouldn't be considered beneath me, right?"

She convinced herself.

Jing Tian is a typical action-oriented person; she does what she thinks of.

She immediately picked up the phone, called her agent, and gave the order directly: "I want to play the female lead in 'Love O2O,' you go and negotiate."

The process and the result were both predictable. The production team welcomed this young lady, who brought with her huge investment and a lot of buzz, with open arms.

Jing Tian, ​​who brought her own investment to the project, easily landed the role of "Bei Weiwei".

Before Jing Tian could recover from the slight joy of finally finding a new target, Shuangzi started to reveal everything.

While the entire internet was flooded with insults and searches for that "damned crony,"

Even Miss Jing, who has seen many storms, was genuinely panicked this time.

Although she has been criticized quite a bit in the past, it was mostly in films she invested in herself, where she didn't need to compete for or fight for roles.

She was paired with many respected veteran actors, and the outside world at most ridiculed her as an "incompetent ruler" and a "resource black hole".

This was the first time she had ever encountered a scene like this, where thousands of people cursed her with the most vicious language, wishing they could drag her out and "tear her apart alive."

Not only did the "Love O2O" production team chicken out and retract the article overnight, but even the fearless Jing Tian was scared.

She had several nightmares in a row, which was unusual. In her dreams, she became a pariah in the entertainment industry, chased and harassed by countless crazy fans, and her career was completely ruined.

Fortunately,

Subsequently, Shuangzi's fans went berserk, making enemies everywhere and offending half of the entertainment industry.
With the help of her company's desperate public relations efforts and attempts to shift the narrative, and most importantly, the fatal blow from the original author Gu Man's appearance on stage, this absurd farce was finally brought to an end.

However, after this incident, Jing Tian also deeply realized the seriousness of the situation and the terrifying power of public opinion.

The production team also communicated with her cautiously, hoping that she could temporarily "lay low" and wait until the storm had completely passed before officially announcing her as the female lead.

Da Tiantian naturally agreed without any objection.

At this point, it is indeed advisable to avoid direct confrontation.

Having found a new goal, despite a bad start, Jing Tian was finally able to break free from the dejection of the failure of "The Great Wall".

Gu Man's words, in particular, greatly encouraged and moved her, showing her that she was recognized by others.

Jing Tian thought for a moment and then made another decision, calling her agent directly: "I want to go to school!"

"Ah? School?"

The agent on the other end of the phone wondered if he was hallucinating.

"I said: I want to go to school! I want to lay low for a while and recharge my batteries."

Jing Tian repeated earnestly, "Isn't this drama set on a school campus? I'll take this opportunity to go to a real university campus to get a feel for it and experience life there."

She is, after all, a "professional" film actress. She has been acting for so many years, and although her achievements are not great, she still understands the basic methodology of "experiencing life".

"Uh...it's not entirely impossible..."

The agent hesitated, feeling that this young lady was up to her old tricks again.

But on second thought, it's better than her staying at home all the time and being depressed. Going out for a walk and changing her environment might not be a bad thing.

"So... Sweetie, which university would you like to 'experience'?"

"Where else can I go? I graduated from Beijing Film Academy, of course I'll go back to Beijing Film Academy."

Jing Tian said matter-of-factly, and then naturally brought up the real point, "I remember, isn't Gu Qing also studying at the Beijing Film Academy? Please arrange for me to be in the same class as him."

She paused for a moment, then said, "We're going to be acting opposite each other soon, so it's good for us to get to know each other beforehand, get to know each other, and build some chemistry."

"A whole class?!"

The agent was startled, and the corner of her mouth twitched involuntarily. "Miss, you call this 'laying low'?!"

This is clearly courting controversy!
She opened her mouth, wanting to offer a few more words of advice, such as whether this was too high-profile, or whether it would attract unnecessary attention...

"It's settled then. Make the arrangements as soon as possible, and I'll be enrolling next Monday."

Jing Tian didn't give her any chance to refute, and hung up the phone decisively, leaving her agent in utter confusion.

Miss Jing here has already begun preparing her "enrollment" plan with great efficiency.

On the other side of the weekend,

A business negotiation that could determine the fate of a project is quietly taking place in an elegant afternoon tea restaurant.

Xu Wei, the negotiation manager for Gu Qing's team, gently pushed the draft contract back across the table, his tone calm yet carrying undeniable weight:
"I apologize, but given the significant negative public opinion surrounding your project recently, and the issues with the production team's management capabilities and potential risks exposed by this incident,..."
In addition... the final choice of the female lead was unexpected.

Our team unanimously agrees that the contract regarding the boss's role as the male lead in "Love O2O" needs to be temporarily shelved and is subject to further discussion.

in an instant,
The producer and investors of the "Love O2O" production team turned deathly pale in an instant, and fine beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on their foreheads.

The thing they feared and worried about most has finally happened!
Gu Qing... is she backing out and doesn't want to perform anymore?!

If Gu Qing quits now, this show will be completely ruined!
Without this pillar, all previous plans will come to naught!
"Could...could this be an attempt to raise prices?"

The producer exchanged quick glances with the investor representative beside him.

"Very likely! This is currently the only reasonable explanation!"

The investor representative responded with a bitter look.

Even knowing that the other party might be trying to raise the price, they had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.

Who told them they were in the wrong?
Who made their project embroiled in controversy, and whose female lead is none other than Jing Tian, ​​the woman whom countless celebrities keep their distance from?

In the entire entertainment industry, which actor who cherishes their reputation and values ​​box office appeal wouldn't be afraid to partner with this heiress, who is known as "box office poison"?
If the show flops, the huge blame will likely fall squarely on the shoulders of the co-stars.

Sitting next to Xu Wei, also participating in the negotiations, was Li Li, the representative of Gu Qing Company, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

According to the contract between the company and Gu Qing, company personnel must be present to supervise every important business cooperation negotiation that Gu Qing undertakes.
The purpose is to ensure transparency in the distribution of profits and to ensure that the company receives its due share in a timely manner.

Furthermore, before this negotiation even began, Gu Qing had already received a strong 'request' from the company.

They want a share!
Even the King of Hell couldn't stop it!!
After witnessing Gu Qing rake in 300 million yuan in box office revenue from just one movie, "Detective Chinatown," the company's executives were practically driven mad with jealousy.

The thought that Gu Qing still had a highly anticipated drama, "Nirvana in Fire," whose revenue-sharing contract remained firmly in Gu Qing's hands, leaving the company with no share, made them extremely uneasy and distressed.

Therefore,
This time, the company insists that a profit-sharing agreement must be signed, no matter what!
They were no longer content with just a fixed "hardship fee."

They want to form a deep partnership and share in the huge added value brought by Gu Qing!
For this,

When Gu Qing found out, she just smiled.

He fulfilled the company's "wish" and agreed to sign a profit-sharing agreement.

Since the female lead has been changed from the highly controversial and risky Shuangzi to Jing Tian, ​​who, although labeled as "box office poison," at least won't "suddenly go crazy" and cause the work to be taken down,

Therefore, adopting a revenue-sharing model that is riskier but may also yield higher returns seems more reasonable.

The only concern is how good Miss Jing's acting skills really are.

Whether the ratings after the series airs will be a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.

But Gu Qing wasn't too worried about it. With his current popularity and ability to carry a drama, even if the ratings of a TV series he starred in were bad, they wouldn't be too bad, and his fanbase was solid enough.

There was an even more important reason that prompted him to agree to the company's profit-sharing demands so readily.

He glanced at the date on his phone, thought of that major event, and silently calculated it in his mind, a slight smile curving his lips.

"It's about time..."

The King of Hell might really be coming for you.

……

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(End of this chapter)